Brady gets straight down to business as Cobblers begin their recruitment drive

Jon Brady will be getting straight down to business this week as he begins the process of disassembling and then rebuilding his squad for League Two.

Once the retained list is confirmed on Tuesday afternoon, the hard work will begin for Brady and his coaching staff ahead of the club's return to the fourth tier.

Most of the current squad are unlikely to be with Northampton next season with five loanees heading back to their parent clubs and several others now out of contract.

"We've got to recruit the right type of player and I think it sent a message about who was captain on Sunday," said Brady, who named the out-of-contract Lloyd Jones as captain at Sunderland.

"We're speaking to the players at the moment and you'll know by Tuesday, but we've got to get staffing right, we've got to get recruitment right and we've got to be ready.

"This has got to be your drive and your ambition to get back to places like Sunderland, especially for some of those players who will be with us next season."

Brady will be assisted by a new head of recruitment this summer as the club set about signing the right players for a potential promotion challenge next season.

A striker or two will likely be at the top of the list given Town's goalscoring woes this past season. Only Bristol Rovers (40) scored fewer goals than the Cobblers (41) in 2020/21.

Danny Rose and Benny Ashley-Seal are under contract for another season and Harry Smith will return following his loan spell at Motherwell.

"Rosey is with us next season and I thought he did well on Sunday and led the line well," Brady added.

"Benny also came on towards the end. He's been out injured and that's been frustrating because we haven't seen the best of him.

"But, potentially, depending on the games, I would like to play with two up front next season."